Personal Blogs

Having received a, 'so called' council tax reminder, on a recent weekend , it led me to question why is it that these reminders do not come on a  week day ? Is it that they are fearful of public response to these letters ? If so it is a cowardly action to take. Then l began to think about the wording and it's threatening format regarding payment. Having looked at this notice after the panic of being threatened and the thought of bailiffs and court, l looked back to find that the outstanding amount had been paid and that due to certain  circumstances in which they  had been informed  of,  (that  being,  when someone eventually answered the phone and we were not cut of when asking a question,) was reliable told that is was ok,   so why were we receiving this letter ?

 As a result of this, the following questions came to mind and l  would like to share them  with you.

Please feel free to leave comments as l would very much like to know opinions and thoughts of others regarding this issue.

 Why do councils  not check their records ? Surely before demanding money you look into reasons of non payment .

Is it because  there is a shortage  of  employee's ? As a result ,the excuse given can  be, "due to the pressure of  the workload and lack of staff..". What is the difficulty of recruiting and training  more staff ? The expense ?  Human beings vs the new fantastic software so that the computer can take the blame?

What is the issue with actually delivering a decent  class service  where the public are  treated with respect and not contempt ?   

Who came up with the idea to send these letters out in time for the weekend? Do councils play on our psyche?  By using the tactics of sending demands at the weekend, do they hope it will catch us off guard enough to  panic us into paying  without asking questions?  If so, this can be seen as very cold and  calculating, knowing  there is no one to address these issues during the weekend.  How many people become fraught and despondent, frustrated and fearful due to this tactic ? What address is there to the vulnerable ?   

By alienating the population and keeping them at a fair distance it appears that the councils can have the right to do  as they please and inform the public when they decide and in a condescending manor to boot.

How many if us have dutifully paid without question due to the wording of the demand, why are we so trusting when it comes to the council ? Is it of our own making ?

Funnily enough when taking a letter over to my council during a week day although it stated on the website  that it was open the doors were firmly shut. Having to post the letter in their post box we decided to actually film it so that we have the evidence.

 I feel that it is a sad state of affairs when you have to do this to justify them even receiving a letter.

So, my advice when these letters  arrive on the weekend , is to check your records, collate as much evidence as you can and make sure that everything sent is evidenced and recorded for your own piece of mind, because it appears that if they can they will blame you  rather than holding themselves accountable.